South Africa No Bid for RWC 2023

The South African rugby union could be prevented from bidding for the 2023 World Cup by its own government after the sports minister banned the country’s five top sports federations from bidding for or hosting major international tournaments for at least a year over their failures to create opportunities for black players.

Fikile Mbalula made the announcement after receiving a report on “transformation” in South Africa’s five biggest sports: rugby, cricket, football, athletics and netball.

The athletics and netball federations also were banned from bidding. Football was the only one to meet its target.

“I have therefore resolved to revoke the privilege of Athletics South Africa (ASA), Cricket South Africa (CSA), Netball South Africa (NSA) and South African rugby (SARU) to host and bid for major and mega international tournaments,” Mbalula said in a statement.

The ban comes into effect immediately, Mbalula said. He said he will review his decision when he has received the results of the federations’ transformation efforts for 2016-17. That could be at the end of next year, or maybe only in early 2018.

His move complicates South Africa’s intention to bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The South African Rugby Union has already announced its intention to bid. World Rugby will release tender documents to interested countries in May, and countries must formally confirm their intention to bid in June.

South Africa, the 1995 hosts, have been trying to hold the tournament again since 2011 but failed in three successive bids. Under the decision announced by Mbalula on Monday, SARU wouldn’t be allowed to bid for 2023.

Both the rugby and cricket federations said their officials would go into closed-door meetings with sports ministry officials after the announcement. Athletics South Africa said it would need to study the “pronouncement” made by Mbalula before commenting.

Rugby is the only one of the sports seeking to host a major event in the near future. Mbalula’s decision should not affect the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which has already been awarded to Durban. The Commonwealth bid was led by the South African Olympic committee.

The South African government has been pushing for years for the country’s main sports, especially rugby and cricket, to create more opportunities for black players. More than two decades after the end of apartheid, those two sports are still generally dominated by whites despite the fact that blacks make up over 80% of South Africa’s population.

All five federations agreed on various transformation targets with the government in 2015. Those agreements involved getting black players involved at school, age-group and club level, right up to provincial and national level.

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Kurtis Haiu 1984 -2016 #RIP

Kurtis Haiu 1984 -2016

Former Blues Super Rugby player Kurtis Haiu has died from a rare form of cancer, aged 31. Haiu played 53 games for the Blues between 2006 and 2011 and 75 for provincial club Auckland before retiring because of a rare form of bone cancer.

“The Blues family are deeply saddened by this news. Several of our players were close to Kurt and have spent time with him over the past weeks and months,” Blues chief executive Michael Redman said on behalf of the team’s players and management.

He said the franchise would discuss an official response on Thursday. The Rugby Players Association said Haiu had tried a variety of treatments for the cancer, Ewings Sarcoma, including alternative treatment in Switzerland and surgery.

Blues Captain Jerome Kaino said Haiu’s battle with cancer was characteristically brave. “I loved playing footy with Kurtis and I will treasure those memories of my Blues brother and pray that he rests in peace,” he said.

Haiu also represented New Zealand at the under-19 and under-21 levels and played for Auckland’s Marist Rugby Club. “It is with great sadness that we inform our Marist Family of the passing on of a Marist son, Kurtis Haiu. No doubt there will be more said about you Kurtis and your devotion to our beloved club but for now, we just bid you farewell,” the club posted on its Facebook page.

Tributes are already flowing in social media, including from former All Black Keven Mealamu who tweeted: “Rest well my Brother, Much Love and Blessing”.

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Reds Feel Full Force at Suncorp

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The pressure on Queensland Super Rugby coach Richard Graham has intensified after a disastrous 22-3 defeat to the Western Force at Suncorp Stadium. It continued an abysmal start to the season by the inexperienced Reds, who again failed to fire a real shot in attack and showed little to suggest they weren’t in for a long, tough year ahead.

The Force held a small lead for most of Saturday night’s match but broke away late, and sealed the win through the game’s sole try from winger Luke Morahan on the fulltime siren. Former Red Jono Lance came back to haunt his old side, booting four from four penalties and setting up Morahan’s try in front of 17,533 fans.

And as if the ongoing absence of Liam Gill, James Slipper and Kane Douglas wasn’t enough, there was more bad news for Queensland on the injury front. Hooker Saia Fainga’a succumbed to what appeared to be an ankle injury midway through the first stanza, placing him in immediate doubt for next week’s home clash with the Melbourne Rebels, while a groggy Hendrik Tui also hobbled off late in the match.

After allowing Wallaby James Hanson to move to Melbourne in the off-season, Queensland’s only back-up hooker is the raw and inexperienced Andrew Reddy. He came off the bench for just his fifth Super Rugby cap and coughed up two costly second-half penalties.

Even import fullback Ayumu Goromaru had an off night with the boot on his Super Rugby starting debut - the Japanese star was recruited specifically for his dead-eye goalkicking but converted only two of his four penalty attempts.

Showers fell before kickoff but the damp conditions alone didn’t excuse a stodgy, error-riddled showing from both sides. The Reds had 58 percent of first-half possession but still trailed 9-3 at the break, unable to convert the ball they had into attacking opportunities as was the case a week earlier against the NSW Waratahs.

Fans had to wait until almost the stroke of halftime for the first real enterprising passage of play from Queensland – when former NRL players Eto Nabuli and Karmichael Hunt combined on a threatening break that ultimately fizzled out - but even then, it was the Force doing the scoring, with Jono Lance slotting his third penalty of the night on the siren.

The Reds were unable to conjure up anything resembling a fightback in the second half, despite closing to within six points at one stage, with their raw but powerful backline again unable to click.

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Saracens Sign Springbok Schalk

Premiership champions Saracens have agreed to sign South Africa flanker Schalk Burger on a two-year contract.

The 32-year-old will move to Allianz Park in the summer following spells with Japanese outfit Suntory Sungoliath and Super Rugby side Stormers.

Burger has earned 86 international caps and won the World Cup with the Springboks in 2007.

"Schalk will add a huge amount of experience and quality to our young pack," said Sarries boss Mark McCall.

"To be able to add one of the world's finest players to the group is extremely exciting.

"He is a man who has achieved everything there is to achieve in the game of rugby."

Burger made his international debut for South Africa in 2003 and has featured in four World Cups.

He made seven appearances at the 2015 tournament and was widely regarded as one of South Africa's top performers as his country rose from the shock of losing to Japan to finish third.

"I'm extremely excited to have the opportunity to play in both the Premiership and the European Champions Cup," said Burger.

"Hopefully I can add a lot of value both on and off the field to an already successful group of players and coaches."

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Reds Release James O'Connor

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James O’Connor has been released from the final year of his contract with the Queensland Reds due to personal welfare reasons.

The former Wallabies star had joined the Reds on a two-year deal ahead of the 2015 Super Rugby season but according to a club statement, O’Connor has been dealing with a number of “personal matters” which the Queensland Rugby Union, Australian Rugby Union and the Rugby Union Players’ Association have all been aware of since May.

“I came to the Reds with the intention of playing my best football in my home state and looking for a fresh start but I’ve struggled with some personal matters,” O’Connor said in the statement.

“The Reds are a wonderful team and organisation and I’m very disappointed I wasn’t able to achieve my full potential for my home state. I wish the Reds all the best for 2016 and beyond.”

Queensland Rugby Union chief executive Jim Carmichael said it was in the best interests of both parties that O’Connor part ways with the Reds. It paves the way for the 25-year-old to return to French glamour club Toulon, where he spent six months before joining the Reds earlier this year. 

Indeed, O’Connor has been repeatedly linked with a move back to Toulon all season long. In June, News Corp reported O’Connor had made an agreement with billionaire Toulon owner Mourad Boujellal to return to the club before he had even left for Queensland.

“James has experienced a difficult time personally since returning to Australia and we’ve been aware of that for some time,” Carmichael said. “Therefore, James will return to Europe where he feels the spotlight on him is less intense.

“In our discussions, we’ve agreed that should James return to Australia to play rugby in the future, the Reds will have the first and last rights to secure his services.”

O’Connor played just 13 games in a injury-wrecked year with the Reds, his troublesome knee holding him back from recapturing his best form. His return to Australian rugby was partly motivated by a bid to make the Wallabies’ World Cup squad but he was unsurprisingly overlooked by coach Michael Cheika.

“James’ willingness to be proactive and speak to the Reds and RUPA regarding matters that too often are suppressed until it is too late are testament to his development and maturing,” RUPA boss Ross Xenos said.

“James is a player of enormous talent and we all hope he will benefit from time and space out of the spotlight to return to Australian rugby in the future. In releasing James, the Reds have clearly shown their commitment to the welfare of their people and credit to them for their leadership and understanding.”

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View from the Top - John Kirwan

“Yesterday is gone from my control, so I don't worry about it. I can make decisions that will feed my soul and give me the life that I can feel good about.” 

John Kirwan, All Blacks Don't Cry

Chiefs Secure Super Rugby Title

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New Zealand's Chiefs won their second successive Super Rugby title with a 27-22 victory over Australia's Brumbies at Waikato Stadium.

A Christian Lealiifano interception gave the Canberra-based Brumbies the opening try and a 16-9 half-time lead.

However, Chiefs pressure was turned into their first try from Liam Messam, and full-back Robbie Robinson burst through a gap to score a second.

Aaron Cruden's tally of one conversion and five penalties sealed victory.

Lealiifano scored all of his team's points to match the Super Rugby final record set by Joe Roff, also playing for the Brumbies, in 2004.

"It was a messy first half," said Chiefs coach Dave Rennie.

"They were able to get in and slow a lot of our ball and steal ball and we got sucked into trying to push too many passes. So there was real character shown in that second half. We got great impact off the bench."

Brumbies coach Jake White said: "Last week we were dead and buried in the 78th minute and we ended up winning (against the Bulls) and I had a little feeling it might happen again tonight.

"Obviously you have to be a bit disappointed. I don't want to single out players in our squad but there were a lot of mistakes that were made when the pressure was on, and that happens in finals."

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